Parole granted for two former Fort Gay officials convicted of embezzlement

Two former Fort Gay officials convicted of embezzling money from the town have been granted parole.

Fort Gay's former mayor and former town recorder, who were convicted in 2025 of embezzling money from the town, were each granted parole during a hearing Monday before the West Virginia Parole Board

Parole granted this week for two former Fort Gay officials convicted of embezzlement

Robert Fields | WVOW News

CHARLESTON Former Mayor Joetta Hatfield and former treasurer and town recorder Sheila Bowen were granted accelerated parole during a West Virginia Parole Board hearing Monday.

Both women are scheduled to be released from the Charleston Correctional Center and Jail on Thursday. The facility includes a co-ed work-release center.

Hatfield and Bowen were arrested in November 2024 following an investigation by West Virginia State Police. The investigation began after a referral from the State Auditor’s Office.

A Wayne County grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against the women in July 2025. The charges included embezzlement, fraudulent schemes, conspiracy, falsifying accounts and computer fraud.

Investigators determined Hatfield and Bowen used their positions to embezzle money from the town between March 2019 and May 2024. According to a criminal complaint, the women wrote hundreds of unauthorized checks to one another from town accounts. The complaint says 107 checks totaling more than $96,000 were written to Hatfield. Another 103 checks totaling more than $94,000 were written to Bowen.

PHOTO | MGN